Advocate staff photo by ANGELA MAJOR -- Members of the Apprentice Choir, made up of children from kindergarten through third grade, dance during the award-winning Livingston Parish Children's Choirs 24th annual Christmas Concert Dec. 5 at Live Oak United Methodist Church in Watson.

Advocate staff photo by ANGELA MAJOR -- Members of the Chorus, made up of children from fourth grade through high school, play instruments Dec. 5 during the award-winning Livingston Parish Children's Choirs 24th annual Christmas Concert at Live Oak United Methodist Church in Watson.

Advocate staff photo by ANGELA MAJOR -- Members of the Apprentice Choir, made up of children from kindergarten through third grade, sing Dec. 5 during the award-winning Livingston Parish Children'ss Choirs 24th annual Christmas Concert at Live Oak United Methodist Church in Watson.

Photo provided by DESHEA JOHNSON -- The Hammond Eastside community gathers during the Hammond Eastside Elementary Showcase on Nov. 11 at the school to learn more about the International Baccalaureate World School programs, which challenge students to excel in their studies, and encourage both personal and academic achievement, according to www.ibo.org.

Advocate staff photo by TRAVIS SPRADLING -- An anamorph, bottom, a distorted image that looks normal when viewed in a special way, appears as a familiar drawing of Lucy from the 'Peanuts' cartoon, as it is viewed reflected in a cylindrical mirror, Dec. 20 during 'Science Saturday' at Livingston'sLaser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory. Attendees could learn about gravitational waves and experience related science exhibits, free, and learned about 'Einsteins Messengers,' a documentary exploring what might be learned in the field of astronomy by observing the gravitational waves that scientist Albert Einstein predicted in his 1916 General Theory of Relativity.

Advocate staff photo by TRAVIS SPRADLING -- Looking through a window that has both clear and mirrored surfaces, Livingston's Aidan McDaniel, 7, left, watches his image merges with that of his father Cliff McDaniel, sitting on the opposite side of the device,Dec. 20 during 'Science Saturday' at LIGO. LIGO will detect the ripples in space-time by using a device called a laser interferometer, in which the time it takes light to travel between suspended mirrors is measured with high precision, using controlled laser light. Two mirrors hang far apart, forming one 'arm' of the interferometer, and two more mirrors make a second arm ,perpendicular to the first. Viewed from above, the two arms form an 'L' shape.

Advocate staff photo by TRAVIS SPRADLING -- Data analysis scientist Amber Stuver explains some of the workings of Livingston's Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory Dec. 20- during a group tour inside the control room there during 'Science Saturday.' Behind her displayed in green are vibrations that inside the detector as laser light travels through LIGO's 'arms' to measure gravitational waves. Attendees could learn about gravitational waves and experience related science exhibits, free of charge, at the event, as well as learning about 'Einsteins Messengers,' a documentary exploring what might be learned in the field of astronomy by observing the gravitational waves that scientist Albert Einstein predicted in his 1916 General Theory of Relativity. Messages that gravitational waves bring from distant cosmic events may revolutionize our understanding of black holes, neutron stars and the processes that formed the universe.

Advocate staff photo by TRAVIS SPRADLING -- Data analysis scientist Amber Stuver, PhD., explains some of the workings of Livingston's LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory), during a group tour inside the control room there during 'Science Saturday' Dec. 20. Behind her displayed in green are vibrations inside the detector, as laser light travels through LIGO's 'arms' to measure gravitational waves. Attendees could learn about gravitational waves and experience related science exhibits, free of charge, at the event, as well as learning about 'Einsteins Messengers,' a documentary exploring what might be learned in the field of astronomy by observing the gravitational waves that scientist Albert Einstein predicted in his 1916 General Theory of Relativity. Messages that gravitational waves bring from distant cosmic events may revolutionize our understanding of black holes, neutron stars and the processes that formed the universe.

Advocate staff photo by TRAVIS SPRADLING -- Anthony Crochett, 8, left, and Aidan McDaniel, 7, right, both members of Livingston Cub Scout Pack 80, launch paper 'copters' with rotating wings, over an Bernoulli Blower exhibit during 'Science Saturday' Dec. 20 at Livingston's Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory. The exhibit, which is used to demonstrate how air moves at different speeds over each side side of a wing to create lift, was used to make a simply fun activity.

Advocate staff photo by TRAVIS SPRADLING -- Water droplets fly up off the surface of a 'spouting bowl,' as Emerson Acosta, 8, of Hammond, uses long strokes of his hands on the bowl's handles to create waves that resonate, or reinforce each other, Dec. 20 during 'Science Saturday' at LIGO. LIGO uses laser light that also resonates, as it moves down the arms it travels in there, as it is observed by scientists measuring gravitational waves. Attendees could learn about gravitational waves and experience related science exhibits, free of charge at the event, as well as learning about 'Einsteins Messengers,' a documentary exploring what might be learned in the field of astronomy by observing the gravitational waves that scientist Albert Einstein predicted in his 1916 General Theory of Relativity.

Photo provided by CINDY WAGNER -- Students perform during Christmas play -- Sophia DiGiovanni, one of the Glorious Angels, smiles and performs for the audience Dec. 16 during Holy Ghost Catholic School's Christmas play in Hammond.

Livingston-Tangipahoa community photo gallery for Jan. 1, 2015

Advocate staff photo by ANGELA MAJOR -- Members of the Apprentice Choir, made up of children from kindergarten through third grade, dance during the award-winning Livingston Parish Children's Choirs 24th annual Christmas Concert Dec. 5 at Live Oak United Methodist Church in Watson.

Advocate staff photo by ANGELA MAJOR -- Members of the Chorus, made up of children from fourth grade through high school, play instruments Dec. 5 during the award-winning Livingston Parish Children's Choirs 24th annual Christmas Concert at Live Oak United Methodist Church in Watson.

Advocate staff photo by ANGELA MAJOR -- Members of the Apprentice Choir, made up of children from kindergarten through third grade, sing Dec. 5 during the award-winning Livingston Parish Children'ss Choirs 24th annual Christmas Concert at Live Oak United Methodist Church in Watson.

Photo provided by DESHEA JOHNSON -- The Hammond Eastside community gathers during the Hammond Eastside Elementary Showcase on Nov. 11 at the school to learn more about the International Baccalaureate World School programs, which challenge students to excel in their studies, and encourage both personal and academic achievement, according to www.ibo.org.

Advocate staff photo by TRAVIS SPRADLING -- An anamorph, bottom, a distorted image that looks normal when viewed in a special way, appears as a familiar drawing of Lucy from the 'Peanuts' cartoon, as it is viewed reflected in a cylindrical mirror, Dec. 20 during 'Science Saturday' at Livingston'sLaser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory. Attendees could learn about gravitational waves and experience related science exhibits, free, and learned about 'Einsteins Messengers,' a documentary exploring what might be learned in the field of astronomy by observing the gravitational waves that scientist Albert Einstein predicted in his 1916 General Theory of Relativity.

Advocate staff photo by TRAVIS SPRADLING -- Looking through a window that has both clear and mirrored surfaces, Livingston's Aidan McDaniel, 7, left, watches his image merges with that of his father Cliff McDaniel, sitting on the opposite side of the device,Dec. 20 during 'Science Saturday' at LIGO. LIGO will detect the ripples in space-time by using a device called a laser interferometer, in which the time it takes light to travel between suspended mirrors is measured with high precision, using controlled laser light. Two mirrors hang far apart, forming one 'arm' of the interferometer, and two more mirrors make a second arm ,perpendicular to the first. Viewed from above, the two arms form an 'L' shape.

Advocate staff photo by TRAVIS SPRADLING -- Data analysis scientist Amber Stuver explains some of the workings of Livingston's Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory Dec. 20- during a group tour inside the control room there during 'Science Saturday.' Behind her displayed in green are vibrations that inside the detector as laser light travels through LIGO's 'arms' to measure gravitational waves. Attendees could learn about gravitational waves and experience related science exhibits, free of charge, at the event, as well as learning about 'Einsteins Messengers,' a documentary exploring what might be learned in the field of astronomy by observing the gravitational waves that scientist Albert Einstein predicted in his 1916 General Theory of Relativity. Messages that gravitational waves bring from distant cosmic events may revolutionize our understanding of black holes, neutron stars and the processes that formed the universe.

Advocate staff photo by TRAVIS SPRADLING -- Data analysis scientist Amber Stuver, PhD., explains some of the workings of Livingston's LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory), during a group tour inside the control room there during 'Science Saturday' Dec. 20. Behind her displayed in green are vibrations inside the detector, as laser light travels through LIGO's 'arms' to measure gravitational waves. Attendees could learn about gravitational waves and experience related science exhibits, free of charge, at the event, as well as learning about 'Einsteins Messengers,' a documentary exploring what might be learned in the field of astronomy by observing the gravitational waves that scientist Albert Einstein predicted in his 1916 General Theory of Relativity. Messages that gravitational waves bring from distant cosmic events may revolutionize our understanding of black holes, neutron stars and the processes that formed the universe.

Advocate staff photo by TRAVIS SPRADLING -- Anthony Crochett, 8, left, and Aidan McDaniel, 7, right, both members of Livingston Cub Scout Pack 80, launch paper 'copters' with rotating wings, over an Bernoulli Blower exhibit during 'Science Saturday' Dec. 20 at Livingston's Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory. The exhibit, which is used to demonstrate how air moves at different speeds over each side side of a wing to create lift, was used to make a simply fun activity.

Advocate staff photo by TRAVIS SPRADLING -- Water droplets fly up off the surface of a 'spouting bowl,' as Emerson Acosta, 8, of Hammond, uses long strokes of his hands on the bowl's handles to create waves that resonate, or reinforce each other, Dec. 20 during 'Science Saturday' at LIGO. LIGO uses laser light that also resonates, as it moves down the arms it travels in there, as it is observed by scientists measuring gravitational waves. Attendees could learn about gravitational waves and experience related science exhibits, free of charge at the event, as well as learning about 'Einsteins Messengers,' a documentary exploring what might be learned in the field of astronomy by observing the gravitational waves that scientist Albert Einstein predicted in his 1916 General Theory of Relativity.

Photo provided by CINDY WAGNER -- Students perform during Christmas play -- Sophia DiGiovanni, one of the Glorious Angels, smiles and performs for the audience Dec. 16 during Holy Ghost Catholic School's Christmas play in Hammond.